100 MW of electricity has been identified in a few moments, and the Moldovan authorities will continue to discuss with their partners. This is how government representatives comment on the energy crisis facing Moldova after the power utility Premier Energy announced an energy deficit and possible supply disruptions.
Yesterday, Transnistria’s de facto leader Vadim Krasnoselski announced that, beginning on Monday, the Kuchurgan Power Plant will reduce electricity supplies to the right bank of the Nistru from 70% to 27% of the total demand. The reason cited is the reduced amount of gas delivered by Russia’s Gazprom.
“This was to be expected. Three weeks ago, we learned that Gazprom was reducing supplies, and it became clear that the Kuchurgan Plant would have to drop its output. I think everyone but Spînu understood this. When Gazprom did reduce gas supplies, Deputy Prime Minister Spînu had to at least use the venues he has access to. At the very least, he had to convene the Moldovan-Russian intergovernmental commission, or he could contact people at Gazprom, or he could buy himself a ticket and fly to Moscow. In 2006, the then deputy prime minister Zinaida Grecianii stayed in Moscow for days and solved the problem. The fact that Miller does not answer Spînu’s phone calls is not an answer of a statesman”, said Iurie Muntean, leader of the opposition Citizens’ Congress Party, during a TV8 show.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu declared that no one will be face outages over this weekend, but starting Monday there could be shortages. Also, Andrei Spînu announced that the authorities have identified an additional 100 MW of electricity that will be imported from Romania. In total, Romania will deliver 235 MW to Moldova.
“We are in the middle of a hybrid war with Russia. Vadim Krasnoselski, too – I listened to his address to the Supreme Soviet – was surprised by the actions of his Russian partners. Gas is a weapon heavily used by Russia as a last resort. We have an offer of 100 MW that appeared in a few minutes. The technical conditions of delivery are being discussed with our partners”, said PAS lawmakers Vitalie Jacot.
Meanwhile, political commentators say that the energy crisis in Moldova, as well as the organization of mass protests against the government, are part of Moscow’s plan to destabilize the situation in our country.
“The Russian Federation uses gas as a political tool against states that are not loyal to it. In Moldova’s case, we see the same scenario, it is a government that dislikes the Kremlin. Energy blackmail is part of a more extensive plan, and what is happening now in the street is also a plot to destabilize the situation in the Republic of Moldova”, said political commentator Veaceslav Berbeca.